"" Dialogue
'' Thoughts
Disclaimer: I do not own "Strike Witches", so this is just a fan made.
Chapter 11: About Trust
(or about opening oneself up)
Two weeks later, in Berlin.
Minna had taken Mio to small tour in the city to the see how the reconstruction was going on. What was only ruins in the past, it looked like a city nowadays as some of the most important spots had been mostly completed restored and some buildings as well and even some people had started to return to their homes.
While the Minna wanted to take her friend and comrade to other places, they had an important rendezvous at Bendlerblock, the newly reconstructed Headquarters in Berlin.
Shortly after, the two commanders were in the hall in front of their superiors.
"As you have been informed Group captain, before Operation Schwarz takes place, it's mandatory to secure Ingolstadt first in order to gather the necessary resources to annihilate the Nest over Nuremberg." Field Marshal Kesselring stated. "As you may know, the 504th had managed to secure to Munich but no more progress had been so far and giving the lack of results as well as several injured Witches, your squad was assigned to continue this task."
"Yes sir, I am aware of that information." Minna replied.
"You are going to be handed all the details regarding the operation that have been collected through surveillance here in your office." General Herr made a pause as he checked the papers in front of him. "The first part of the operation will take place in a week; I expect good results".
"I can guarantee you there will be good results, General." Minna noted.
"Group Captain Wilcke, is it?" The Britannian Air Marshall upheld enquired as he clasped his hands in front of his face.
"Yes general, Group Captain Wilcke of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing." Minna replied.
"Are you certain your squad is up to the task? We are burning through piles of money." He made a pause. "We don't desire to have such disastrous results as it happened in Antwerp."
"With all due respect General, if we hadn't been there, not only the port would have been destroyed but the city and countless lives would have been lost." Minna replied in a neutral tone yet raising her voice a little.
"But the port was destroyed so my point stands." He proclaimed.
Minna was about to snap until Mio hold her hand, making her stop in her tracks.
"Sir, Flight Lieutenant Miyafuji did all she could to protect both the port and the Doge until reinforcements arrived." Mio added with a neutral tone.
"Flight Lieutenant, that's interesting, last I heard she didn't even belong to the Fuso Navy and if recall correctly she was not even authorized to be there."
Now it was Mio who was about to snap until she was interrupted, "Commander, William, if I hadn't been for the Witches we would not even be here" General Herr made a pause as he put his hand over the shoulder of the Britannian general. "So, Commander, your squad can fulfill this task, right?"
"I'm certain of it, sir." Minna replied now with more soothed expression on her face.
"So that settles it, the first part of the operation will take place in one week from today, and we cannot afford to have any delays, we're burning money carrying out this operation after the 504th failure." Field Marshal Kesselring stated. "You're dismissed."
Meanwhile in Munich, in the afternoon
The 501st was communicated about the news regarding the next assignment to finally advance to Ingolstadt and then to Nuremberg, thus, the girls took themselves more seriously and trained harder under Perrine's guidance as they now have something to look forward.
All the girls were currently doing their drills in the sky save for Erica who wanted to stay at stand-by and Eila and Sanya who had night patrol.
"They could have told us the good news personally if they were going to arrive today." Perrine stated as she stooped and all the girls behind her did the same.
"It doesn't seem to be from Karlsland." Shizuka pointed out as she noticed the flag in its wings.
"I recognize that plane, it's from Liberion." Yoshika added.
"I wonder who is coming." Lynette asked.
"We better head back." The captain ordered the group as the group continue flying in arrowhead formation.
Shortly after, there were five Witches at the runway track, standing in attention, waiting for whoever was coming of the plane, then the door opened.
"I know I'm glamorous, but I wasn't expecting such formal reception." Charlotte said as she exited the plane took off her sunglasses.
"Shirley!" everyone cheered as they were not expecting her to come out of the plane.
Then, a second person came out of the plane, also wearing sunglasses.
"Francesca!" almost everyone beamed with a bit more of surprise when they noticed her new appearance, but Perrine just sighed as she knew her duty as captain had just become more challenging and not counting tiring.
"We're back!" the youngest Witch bubbled as she also took off her sunglasses.
As both Witches went downstairs, the group could notice what exactly had changed in the various months that they had been separated; it seemed puberty had finally hit the Romagnan Witch. As she got closer to them, they could look at her more closely, she was still wearing her white blouse but with the small difference that the first two buttons of her blouse were unbuttoned showing a bit of cleavage and her hair no longer had bows and was down.
They all greeted each other but Charlotte had already noticed that there some people missing.
"Where are the rest?" The Liberion Witch asked the group.
"Eila and Sanya are in their rooms." Lynette made a pause. "Group Captain Minna, Major Sakamoto and Barkhorn left for Berlin."
"Wait, do you mean they leave you all alone?" Charlotte pointed out, with a surprise in her tone.
"Actually, Perrine is in charge, in fact, she's our new captain." Yoshika stated.
"What!? The heck happened with Barkhorn?" Charlotte asked.
"She stepped down," Shizuka announced.
"Why?" Charlotte asked with surprise in her voice.
"Her time as a Witch was running out." Yoshika disappointingly replied.
"Wait, she could no longer use a striker?" Francesca asked.
"She still can," Erica replied in a cold tone making Charlotte raise an eyebrow.
"Hmm, so you're our new captain." Francesca sarcastically said as she walked in front of Perrine.
"I was assigned as such." The Gallian Witch announced as nobly as she could.
"It should have been Shirley, or Lynne, you don't have the amplitude to be our captain, if you know what I mean." Francesca said as she touched her own breasts making Lynette blush as she looked at hers.
"HAVING BIGGER BOOBS DOESN'T MAKE YOU BETTER THAN ME." Perrine replied trying to maintain the little composure she still had while becoming red of angriness.
"Who cares about that now, but you know I still have the biggest rack around here." Charlotte said as she touched her own breasts. "Let's go inside, I'm worn out, do you have a room for us right?" She asked to the whole group.
"Yes Flight Lieutenant, a shared room for both of you." Shizuka pointed out.
And thus, the almost complete group went inside while the crewmen unloaded the two Strikers.
Perrine on the other hand, headed to the Minna's office in order to update the schedule but as she walked there, she starting to think about her duties as captain.
Now in the office, she began rearranging the schedule, but she could not get herself to do it.
"This is going to become more troublesome." She said to herself. "Maybe I'm not qualified for being captain after all." Perrine thought, realizing that had not been able to get Erica to follow her orders. And a few days had passed since that, and she had not been able to make progress with who was the best Witch of the 501st.
And now with the arrival of both Francesca and Charlotte, she knew it was going to become even more difficult to get them to follow her orders. Not even a real mission had been carried out under her leadership, but she felt she had disgraced Mio.
"This is paradoxical." The Witch-in-charge said to her own head, just a few days ago she was giving advice to Yoshika on how to become a qualified leader, but she had not been able to follow on her own advice.
Yet, she was not going to let them down, she only had one week to be sure that the Joint Fighter Wing was ready as they were going to advance into Ingolstadt and then to Nuremberg. Night Patrols would be put on hold, and she was going to divide them into two groups. One would be commanded by herself and the other by Yoshika and there would also be a sortie with the whole Joint Fighter Wing to monitor the group's synergy.
The next day
After they were done with the quick meeting in which the two Witches were updated about the next operation to secure Ingolstadt and the Neuroi they had encountered, the first group was ready to sortie at the runway track.
"Be ready to take off at my signal." Perrine told the group.
"Yes ma'am." The three girls replied.
Shortly after, the captain beckoned them and four magic circles appeared, and the Witches flew into the Munich's sky.
"I wonder what they did in Liberion." Yoshika commented.
"Whatever they did, it did wonders to Francesca." Eila added, making Lynette and Yoshika blush.
"Eila…" Sanya said quietly.
"I'm just saying."
"We're next so we better do everything Perrine asked us to do before they come back." Yoshika added, still blushing a little.
"You're right Yoshika." Lynette commented.
"I'm gonna go to my room; see you later guys." Erica said as she headed inside the base.
"But Erica…" Sanya appealed yet Erica just continued walking, making the three Witches exchange glances and without nothing else to add, the four Witches also headed inside to fulfill their duties at the base.
Moments later
The four Witches were in the northern Munich sky in Schwarm formation, with Perrine as lead while Shizuka was performing as her wingman.
"Geez, this feels weird without Barkhorn." Charlotte commented.
Perrine sighed. "Let's practice evading and pursuing, Hattori you are with me, we will be evading."
"Yes ma'am." Shizuka said as she went to her left side as her wingman, and both accelerated and made some distance.
"Roger that. Francesca, follow me." Charlotte stated.
"Right behind you Shirley." She added as she also went to her left side and thus, both Witches began pursuing them, though after a couple minutes, Perrine and Shizuka were not able to keep them off from their tail.
"You know, we weren't slaking in Liberion, right Francesca." Shirley said as she tried to aim Perrine.
"You bet." Francesca added who was having a bit more trouble with Shizuka.
"I just noticed that, but neither have we, right Hattori." Perrine exclaimed beckoning her.
"Right Captain." Shizuka answered as she realized what maneuver she was expecting her to do, and thus both slowed down and got into each other path forcing them overshoot, ending the match as they were now the pursued ones.
"That was underwhelming." Charlotte claimed.
"I was sure we will win this one." Francesca commented.
"You've been really taking this seriously, eh, Perrine." Charlotte added, making her cheeks a bit red.
"It's my duty and don't disregard the fact that in a couple days we are going to advance into Ingolstadt." The Witch-in-charge stated.
"Geez, and we've just arrived from vacations" Charlotte made a pause, "I mean, training".
"Let's head back." Perrine ordered the group and thus the group began flying south again but as they did so, a wind gust shook them off.
"What was that?" Francesca wondered.
"Not sure" Perrine said.
"Damn it, it's one of those bastards again." Charlotte commented as smallish black blur disappeared into the northern part of Munich.
"You- You're right Lieutenant Yeager." Shizuka added with her voice trembling a little.
"C'mon, let catch it." Charlotte said as she began flying to the north.
"Stop, it seems it was just an explorer." Perrine ordered the group.
"We cannot let it escape"
"You're right Shirley." Francesca added.
"It's too far away to nigh it and it headed to Ingolstadt, we have explicit orders to stay away from there until further instructions."
Charlotte sighed. "If it shows its face again, we have to destroy it."
"I concur with that, let's head back to the base." The Witch-in-charge added and thus, the group began following her to the base.
As they flew, Perrine was more relieved realizing realized that this sortie went better than what she expected.
'I should have trusted them more.' She said to her own head, she had almost forgotten they have a different attitude in the sky, still she hoped the things would improve with Erica.
Later that morning
The lunch was almost complete by the time the first group came back; thus, the second group was ready at the runway track, equipping their Strikers and guns as they approached them, with Perrine in front of them.
"Stop, there's something I need to inform all of you."
"Is something wrong Perrine?" Yoshika asked.
"It seems there's an explorer lurking in the sky." Charlotte commented.
"We figured it out, Sanya told me she sensed something for a second."
"Indeed, but it disappeared too fast so I couldn't pinpoint its location." Sanya stated.
"Did you engage it?" Eila asked.
"We were not able to," Perrine added visible disappointed.
"Why?" Yoshika asked the four girls.
"It's one of those Jet Neuroi again." Charlotte added.
Yoshika gulped. "There's no time waste, we must find it."
"You don't permission to engage it, it headed into Ingolstadt." Perrine stated.
"So, let's go there." Yoshika appealed.
"Miyafuji, you know we have clear orders to stay away from there."
"We cannot just stay here and do nothing." Yoshika countered back.
"If it comes back, you're free to engage it, otherwise, you can practice here, under my watch." The Witch-in-charge stated, but Yoshika did not respond.
"Are we clear?" Perrine added yet Yoshika did not even gaze her back. "Are the instructions clear Miyafuji?" Perrine repreated, raising her voice a little.
"Yes ma'am." Yoshika replied, still not glancing at her.
"Lynne, you're going to be in charge." Perrine added as the Britannian Witch nodded in agreement, and an uncomfortable silence became present in the hangar.
"Hey guys, is Hartmann not going to train with you?" Charlotte asked, deciding to appease the room, yet unknowingly to her, it was Perrine who could now not return the sight.
"She is taking a break." Lynette commented, noticing Perrine's mood.
"A long break you could add." Eila added.
"Has she even flown with you since she came back?"
"Well, you could say yes, once." Shizuka commented.
"It's not like she needs to practice, though, she's the best of us all." Francesca said carefreely.
"Indeed, she is." Perrine sighed. "Better get going. You three take care of the rest of duties at the base, while I stay here, supervising them."
"At least I can do that after I come back." Yoshika appealed now gazing at Perrine in the eyes, making the Witches exchange glances as the silence took hold of the hangar once again.
"I can do it for you Yoshika" Shizuka broke in.
"And we can help you" Francesca added a bit enthusiastically.
"Why not? We have more than enough freedom in Liberion! Right Francesca."
"La Libertà!"
And without nothing else to add, the second group flew into the sky while Perrine gave one last gaze at Yoshika and so did the rest of the girls, now at Perrine's side.
"Hey Captain Clostermann, isn't Miyafuji acting a bit weird?" Charlotte asked.
"A little more than usual, yes, but I'm not sure why she's acting like that."
"And her tail looks different," Francesca commented.
"You could add that to the list"
"Do you know something, Hattori?" Charlotte asked.
"I- I mean, I don't know, Flight Lieutenant Yeager." Shizuka added looking down.
"She seemed fine to me." Francesca commented. "And I like the new look of her tail."
"At least she's been keeping up with her duties as usual unlike…"
"Unlike Hartmann." Charlotte added while Perrine remained in silence watching how the second group practiced in the sky, while Shizuka just nodded in agreement. "I'm gonna speak with her later." Charlotte added as the three Witches went inside the base while Perrine just stayed there, watching them practice.
In the afternoon
After coming back from training and with no Neuroi in sight and after being done with the duties at the base and having lunch, Yoshika headed out to the forest again to clear her mind but this time, with another reason in mind.
"I think I saw a fallen tree near here…" Yoshika said to herself as she traversed the forest with an exe in her hand and ropes in the other. "There it is" Yoshika added somewhat cheerfully after finding out what she was looking for, then she began chopping it.
And a couple of minutes went by and after she had enough logs, she tied them up, making an improvised backpack and her mameshiba ears and tail appeared. After lifting it up, she began carrying it on her back in a somewhat slower pace.
"Yoshika, do you need any help?" Lynette said unexpectedly as she made her way through the forest, yet she also made Yoshika fell to her back.
"Ouch…" Yoshika added as the logs fell everywhere. "I didn't hear you coming."
"Are you hurt? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Lynette said helping her to stand up.
"I'm fine"
"Are you sure?," Lynette gave her a more closer look to her, "Your face is all flushed,"
"Huh?" Yoshika exclaimed touching her face. "I guess it's pretty hot here." She added then, she took off her neckerchief, collar and blouse.
"But it's not that warm in here." Lynette commented using her hand to feel the temperature.
"I guess chopping wood made sweat a bit." She stated wiping off the sweat of her face, then she began tying up the logs again.
"Let me help you"
"There's nothing to worry, it's not that heavy." Yoshika said with a polite smile, then her ears and tail appeared again, and she lifted the logs once more. "Could you take care of my clothes please?"
"Sure" Lynette added still a bit hesitant as she picked them up, then she began following Yoshika as she walked towards the base. "By the way a letter from Althea arrived for you as well as a box."
"I better hurry up."
Meanwhile, inside the base
Charlotte had also finished with her pending duties and with no news of the Neuroi, she headed to the room of one Witch.
"Hey Hartmann, you there?" She asked as she knocked the door but there was no answer, only some unintelligible murmurs, so she opened the door, only to find a messy room and Erica on the top of it, with her face covered with a magazine.
"Why didn't you come with us to eat?"
"I'm not hungry, I'm gonna eat later." Erica said, face still covered.
"Miyafuji prepared something special for us." Charlotte commented.
"Later…"
Charlotte sighed loudly, noticing it was going to be way harder than what she expected.
"There's a Neuroi lurking near here."
"I bet you can deal with it."
"It's one of those Jet Neuroi again." The Liberion Witch stated, now Erica gazing at her, with now her face just partially covered. "And Barkhorn is not here."
"As I said you can deal with it." Erica added as she covered her face again.
"So... do you know why she stepped down?" She asked, yet Erica did not move nor responded. "If she can fly, she either cannot use a shield, or it should have something to do with Captain Wilcke's promotion." She commented, making Erica sit.
"She didn't tell me single word."
"Yeah, right…" Charlotte parroted. "I know that Barkhorn would've never retired until every single Neuroi was driven out." She sighed. "Whatever her reasons are, I'm sure it wasn't easy for her." She added yet Erica did not reply anything and laid again, and without nothing else to add, she exited the room.
A few minutes later
After staking the firewood near the sauna, Lynette went to their shared room to leave the clothes there, while Yoshika went to Minna's office, and then she knocked the door.
"May I come in?" Yoshika asked just outside the office.
"It's open" Perrine replied sitting at the side of the desk, with a pen in her hand and several papers in front of her.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting you, Lynne told me a letter arrived for me." The Fusoan Witch stated, still near the door.
"Yes, Miyafuji and also a box." She added as she stood up, then she handed the box with the letter on it. "Are you feeling alright? Your face is all red and you're not even wearing your complete uniform."
"I just felt a bit warm after chopping the wood, that's all. I feel fine." Yoshika added, noticing the box was a bit heavier than what she expected. "May I go to check what Althea sent me in my room?"
"Of course" Perrine said still gazing at Yoshika.
"Thanks" Yoshika said as she exited the office, and then she headed to her room, only to find Shizuka in her way there.
"Hi Yoshika, are you going somewhere?"
"Hi Shizuka, yes to my room, remember the friend I told you I made in Lausanne? Well, she sent me something and I'm going to check what is." She cheerfully stated.
"Alright…" Shizuka added a bit disappointingly.
"Let's see it together." Yoshika added smiling at her, grabbing her hand.
As the duo entered the room, they noticed that Lynette was there sorting her clothes as well as Yoshika's now that Erica had found hers. Yoshika put the box over the desk while Shizuka took a sit on the bed.
"It looks bigger than what I expected." Lynette commented noticing what Yoshika just brought.
"I know and it's pretty heavy too, I wonder what she sent me." Yoshika added with a curious yet cheerful expression.
She took a sit in front of the desk, opened the letter and began reading it, while the two Witches watched her with attention.
"Is she feeling alright? She looks very flushed." Shizuka whispered to the Britannian Witch's ear.
"She told me she is but I'm not so sure, though she was outside chopping wood." Lynette muttered making Shizuka even more worried, but unexpectedly, Yoshika stood up and opened the box and began unpacking its content, which were several books and a few notebooks as well.
"Did something happen to Althea?" Lynette asked.
"Nothing really…" Yoshika softly said. "It's just that…" She sighed. "The next semester had begun at Lausanne, and these are the books that we…, I mean they are going to be using, and these are also the notebooks that Althea had been taking notes with." Yoshika rubbed her eyes, "I better take a bath." Yoshika added as she opened the drawer and picked up a swimsuit and blouse. Then, she left the room not even gazing them, leaving the two Witches looking down.
In the bathroom
Yoshika began filling the bathtub with cold water, and as she did so, she stripped and entered the shower.
"I suppose I should've expected that by now." Yoshika said to herself, soaking her hair. "I mean almost two months had passed since the exams." She sighed letting the cold water pour on her face and the rest of her body, and she stayed there for a couple of minutes.
The bathtub had already filled up, so she turned off the shower faucet and entered the bathtub and now, soaking there, she stretched up as much as she could. Then, she just stayed there watching the ceiling, with her mind in blank, and a couple minutes went by until someone knocked the door.
"Yoshika, may we come in?" Lynette asked.
"Yes." And thus, the two Witches entered only to find a now curled-up Yoshika in the bathtub.
"Yoshika…" Both Witches said in unison, yet she did not reply anything, not even gazing back at them.
"You know you can always continue pursuing your studies at Lausanne." Lynette suggested.
"Yes Yoshika, no one would object your decision, you've done a lot for us, for the war." Shizuka added.
"I gave it a lot of thought these past months and I'll be selfish if I quit, leaving you behind." Yoshika sighed. "My studies are not that important and besides, I've been preparing myself, and we're going begin operations in a couple of days." Yoshika commented yet the two Witches did not look to convinced. "It's not like I can't go back to Lausanne after this is over and also, Althea sent me her notebooks so I can continue learning here, by myself." Yoshika added, gazing both as she tried to smile. Still, the Witches' expressions did not change.
"Then, let us take care of your duties here at the base." Lynette pledged.
"Yes, you will have more free time to study." Shizuka added, with a hopeful gaze.
"I don't want to bother you, really. I don't want to cause more problems." Yoshika said, leaving the two Witches wondering what she meant by that, then she stood up from the bathtub and got out from it. "We all help here, it's not like I do everything by myself, and Francesca and Shirley just arrived so we are going to have even more hands to help." Yoshika added in a neutral tone with a polite smile, as Lynette handled her a towel. "And I think, it's time to prepare dinner."
"Are you feeling alright? Your face is still red." Lynette added.
"It still is?" She wondered as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Yoshika, the water is freezing." Shizuka added with her hand waving the water.
"It is? I didn't feel that cold to me, but I was feeling pretty warm, I guess I got sunstroke." She added as she dried her body, then Shizuka handed her clothes, so she began dressing up. "Do you want to help me to prepare dinner?" Yoshika asked, tying her neckerchief, yet neither of them answered, just glanced at her.
"Yoshika, let's go to the infirmary." Lynette stated with a serious tone.
"Huh?" Yoshika wondered what she heard, yet Lynette and Shizuka's gazes were as serious as they could get. "I feel fine guys, you know I'm studying to be a doctor, so I'd know if something's wrong with me."
"Well, you told us patients should understand the value of a second opinion." Lynette countered her back.
Yoshika sighed, "I guess I said that."
"Yes Yoshika, a quick examination would not kill you." Shizuka added with a persuasive gaze.
"There's no way to change your minds, is there?" The aspiring medic asked, making the two girls slowly shake their heads in disagreement.
And thus, the three girls walked to the infirmary, Yoshika in the middle, arm in arm and shortly after they arrived at the medical's room which was pretty well equipped in comparison to the rest of the base.
After the group greeted the medic, Yoshika took a sit in the gurney, while the two girls watched her from the couch nearby.
"Please take off your clothes." The medic said and Yoshika took off her jacket, collar and neckerchief and then pulled down her swimsuit, and the medic began checking her breath with her stethoscope on her back.
"Take a deep breath" She did so and while the two Witches watched her with their hands clenching.
"Lie down" The medic said and began examining her torso with her hands. "It seems you were injured in battle."
"I was but I disinfected the wound and then I bandaged myself up." She added with a neutral tone while Lynette just gazed at her with a hint of disappointment in her sight.
"And you did a fine job, it's almost completely healed and there are no signs of infection." The doctor commented.
"Your pulse is a bit high but otherwise you are in good health. What were you doing before you came here?" She asked gazing at her eyes.
"I was taking a bath" Yoshika added as she pulled up one of the straps of her swimsuit.
"A freezing bath" Shizuka said in low voice, yet the medic gazed at her and then Yoshika again.
"We haven't finished yet" The medic said so Yoshika uncovered her chest again and she put the stethoscope on her. "Try to use some magic." The doctor said and thus, Yoshika's ears and tail appeared, and she put out a smallish shield, while the doctor checked her watch.
"Your pulse got even higher. You may be overextending yourself." She added while both Witches watched with worried expressions on their faces.
"That- that can't be." Yoshika's voice trembled. "I feel fine, I haven't been training that much, in fact, I trained way harder in Helvetia, and I felt even better." Yoshika appealed.
"You need to take it easy the next days." The medic said still hearing her heartbeat.
"But- but we're going to advance into Ingolstadt in a few days."
"Which is why you should follow the doctor's advice, that's it, of course if you want to participate." The captain added as she took a step forward, showing herself up.
"Perrine where did you come from?"
"I was a bit concerned about you and when I notice no one was in your room, I figure you must be here." Perrine stated. "Would it be wise to let her use a Strike Unit?" She addressed the medic.
"She would need a more thorough examination to understand what is happening to her, nevertheless, she still can, she just needs to soften herself up, her body, magic usage as well as mind." The Medic proclaimed. "You're very stressed Yoshika." She added, putting her hand on her shoulder, yet Shizuka just looked down with regret in her eyes.
"I- I guess I've been overdoing myself a little since I regained control of my magic pressure." Yoshika stated, gazing at the group. "I've been acting reckless." She sighed.
"Lynne, Hattori, please have an eye on her."
"Yes, ma'am." Both Witches.
"But I can restrain myself." Yoshika protested as she began putting her clothes back on. "Can't I?" She added, but not a single word was muttered. "At least, can I help with the dinner?" Yoshika added a bit ashamed.
"Let us spoil you with the dinner tonight, right Shizuka?" Lynette said with a polite smile.
"Yes, Yoshika." Shizuka said, trying to contain her tears, gazing at her.
"What's the matter Shizuka? I can fly just fine and use magic as well. There's nothing to worry about. Not this time." Yoshika comfortingly stated, getting up and then putting both her hands on her shoulders.
"I know Yoshika. It's just that I'm a bit worried. That's all." Shizuka commented, as Yoshika cleaned her tears.
"Everything's gonna be just fine, as always. There's no need to be sad." Yoshika added gazing at her, but Shizuka just rested her head on her shoulder and began sobbing a little. "At least may I still jog around the base?"
"You can continue with your normal activities, just do not to overwork yourself." The medic stated.
"Commander Minna told me the same thing, I guess I didn't learn the lesson." Yoshika stated with a hint of regret in her voice.
"But not today, Miyafuji, you'll rest for the day and that's an order." Perrine added, still she could not help but notice that Shizuka was still sobbing a little.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Tomorrow we'll arrange your new schedule." Perrine wrapped up.
In the evening
Two girls were preparing dinner, though it took a lot of convincing to get Yoshika to stay in the dining table, just watching them. A few minutes later, Perrine also came to the kitchen and the three girls worked together to prepare dinner or rather to finish it.
By the time the night arrived, the rest of the Witches started to come to the dining hall, and to Perrine's surprise, even Erica joined them. And thus, two Witches began carrying the food to the table while Lynette just stayed with Yoshika, with her hands over her shoulders, stopping her from standing.
After the pot was served as well the dishes, Perrine took a sit and so did Lynette next to Yoshika. Then, the girls began serving themselves the food.
"This is not Miyafuji's seasoning" Francesca added as she took the first bite.
"It's mine, don't you like it?" Perrine stated.
"It's actually pretty good. I didn't know you could cook this well Perrine." Charlotte added as she also ate.
"Yep, I like it." Francesca added as she gulped through the food.
"It's delicious." Sanya quietly added.
"It kinda reminds me of what we ate back in the 502nd headquarters." Eila commented.
"I don't deserve the credit, Lynne and Shizuka did most of the cooking."
"Nah, I still prefer Miyafuji's, is she sick or something?" Erica asked, making Yoshika look down.
"She's not, but it's nice to have something not from Fuso to eat for a change." Perrine stated. "Which is why we're going to take turns."
"I can still take care of the cooking." The aspiring medic broke in.
"Yoshika, don't you like what we made?" Lynette asked holding her hand.
"I do but…"
"So, there's no point in discussing it anymore." Perrine chimed in.
"Yes, Miyafuji we can do that. No biggie." Charlotte added as she served herself more food.
"I can also prepare some dishes from Romagna."
"I can make some Orussian dishes with the supplies we brought from there."
"And I'll help you." Eila added.
"I also could make something from Karlsland, not sure if you like it though." Erica added to Perrine's surprise.
"And if anyone wants something from Fuso, I can do it." Shizuka added, walking towards the dining table with a bowl in her hands. "This is for you Yoshika, I did my best, just like you taught me." She put it on front of Yoshika.
"Natto!" Yoshika beamed. "I wasn't expecting to have natto tonight, thanks Shizuka."
"I hope you like it." She added as she took a sit next to her.
Then, Yoshika took the first a bite and her eyes sparkled in happiness. "It tastes just like the ones we made back at home, thank you." She bubbled as she gulped it, as the rest of the girls watched her with a bit surprise, still, the whole group continued eating the food. While Shizuka just watched her with a now more relieved look on her face.
After some time, the whole group started to finish the food and noticing that, Yoshika stood up and began picking up the dishes.
"Lynne, please take Yoshika to your bedroom, and rest well." Perrine added, making the Britannian Witch nod in agreement. "We're going to care of this."
"But…" Yoshika tried to counter back but Lynette just grabbed her hand.
"Let's go Yoshika." Lynette added, and after a quick stop in the bathroom to clean themselves up, they made it back to their room.
Now, there, both put on their usual nightgowns and after doing so Lynette laid on her bunk, but Yoshika did not, and stayed just watching the desk with a pensive expression on her face.
"Lynne, it wouldn't hurt me to check what Althea sent me, would it?"
"I guess it wouldn't." Lynette added with a pensive tone.
"Thank you" And thus, Yoshika turned off the light and turned on the lamp, while Lynette just gazed her from the bed, how she read the books and compared notes with the notebooks. And quite a long time passed yet Lynette just continued watching her roommate, nevertheless, Yoshika now seemed to be kipping on the desk, thus she stood up and carried her roommate to her bed.
And a couple of minutes later, Yoshika was now resting on her arm while Lynette was just feeling her warm yet cozy breath on her neck and her hand on her chest, yet she did not really mind it as she also was hugging her with her left arm.
As they were deep into the night, the silence took hold of the room, and the only sound that Lynette could now be heard was hoots at the distance, and even Yoshika's heartbeat, which now seemed to be just as hers, relieving her. But to her surprise, Yoshika stretched up, tightening her grip, making her moan softly, yet it was enough to wake Yoshika up.
"What… was that?" Yoshika muttered, still with her eyes closed, yet she realized where she was and what her hand was feeling, "I'm sorry Lynne, I didn't realize I..." Yoshika said, still half awaken with embarrassment in her tone, as she took off her hand from her breasts and tried to get up, yet Lynette did not move her arm and continued hugging her.
"I- don't mind it if you- continued sleeping here." Lynette muttered blushing slightly.
"Um, all- alright." Yoshika hesitantly said as she rested in her head on her arm again and crossed her arms now over her own chest, and the quietness became present once again and some minutes passed.
Now, the two girls just stayed there, cuddled together. Yet, Lynette did not know if Yoshika was still awake, and now not even the hoots could be heard, just her breathing as well as hers, yet she was enjoying this time of tranquility she could have alongside her, just resting and not worrying about anything and with her safe on her arm.
"Lynne, are you still awake?" Yoshika softly asked, almost whispering.
"I am"
"May I- may I ask you something?" She trembled.
"Sure" Lynette said yet Yoshika did not say anything else and now her heartbeat became more intense as she even could sense it with her hand and a few seconds passed, which felt like minutes to Yoshika.
"I- I know you're really bothered when someone feel up your bre- breasts. But you've never minded me." She gulped. "You even let me when I couldn't control my magic."
"I guess I don't really mind it if it's you." Lynette stated. "I mean when we're cuddling, to- together." Lynette said and now she could feel how her own pulse increased yet she just began stroking Yoshika's short hair.
"I- I can't really help it." Yoshika added shamelessly.
"I know and I don't really mind it, we can cuddle together whenever you want it," Lynette added with a trace of embarrassment in her voice. To her surprise, Yoshika just turned around and slowly yet steadily put her arm over her waist, hugging her.
"It feels so nice to cuddle with you." Yoshika tenderly added, "When we are together, I feel safe as if nothing can hurt me."
"I just feel like that when I am with you." Lynette also hugged her with her right arm. "Since- since we did our first mission together back in Britannia, I've realized that I enjoy being together with you, everywhere" Then she rested her cheek on her head. "I trust you with my own life."
"And I thought I was the only one who feel like that," Yoshika cheerfully said.
"There's no need to lie to me," Lynette added as she slowly moved her hand up to her now-just- barely-scarred-injure. "Why?"
"I- I saw how worried you were after what happened, I didn't want to concern you more or anyone for what matter. Nothing really happened." Yoshika softly muttered.
"There's no need to hide things, not from me."
"I know that but still."
"Yoshika, I lo- long for your well-being. I've noticed how hard you've been pushing yourself with everything since before even Berlin was liberated." Then, she hugged a little tighter. "You're not alone, you have me and everyone. I don't know what I'll do if something happened to you. Promise me you'll be more cautious with yourself."
"I- I can promise you that." Yoshika added, as she moved to see her in the eyes.
"Thank you." Lynette added, then moved Yoshika's face close to her chest, and embraced her a bit tighter, and as Yoshika closed her eyes.
"Have a good night" Yoshika said.
"Same to you." Lynette said, still embracing her and shortly after, she also closed her eyes.
Meanwhile in Fuso, at the same time
It was still early in the morning, the sun was shining slightly and through the dusty roads, three trucks full of supply boxes were making their way out of Kamakura into the port.
"I still can't believe the people from here were so generous after I told them what's happening in Munich." Michiko said.
"It's not surprising, after all Lieutenant Miyafuji is their local hero." Hijikata replied.
"That's true" Michiko added with a pensive tone, "and thank you for arranging a ship to send everything to Europe".
"Actually, that was the easiest part, there's a captain in the Fuso navy that had met Lieutenant Miyafuji recently and he even managed to get his commanded ship assigned to travel to Europe." Hijikata pointed out.
"I'm really glad for that."
Shortly after, they arrived at the port, and an armed merchant cruiser was already there, and the trucks stationed near it.
After Michiko got out of the truck, she could see how several crewmen unloaded the supply boxes from the trucks into the ship and she could not help it but admire the rather interesting design of the ship until a man came to her side.
"Great job, young lady gathering all these supplies for Lieutenant Miyafuji." The man told her.
"This is the least I can do for my best friend." Michiko said.
"And she is the pride of the Fuso empire as well, yet again she has quite the disregard for military orders" the man added.
"Yep, that's her." Michiko then realized something, "Wait, if you know her, that's means you must be the captain of this ship."
"Indeed, I'm Imazato Hiroshi, the captain of the Hōkoku Maru." The man introduced himself.
"And I'm Yamakawa Michiko and I'm studying to become a teacher." She said, but she could not stop thinking about the ship's design. "Excuse me, but this used to be civilian ship, right?" she asked.
"You're quite right young lady, a few years later after the Fuso incident, it was requisitioned into what you're seeing now." The captain answered and then looked at Michiko. "By the way, if I recall correctly, you want to come to Europe to deliver her all the supplies personally, right?".
"That what I hope Captain, if you allow me to come with you, I can help you with whatever is required aboard." Michiko pledged.
"If there's a way to aid the 501st and Flight Lieutenant Miyafuji as well, I'll do whatever is necessary to assist them." The captain stated, "and since you are her best friend, it would be my pleasure to take you to Europe. but beware that you will be close to the frontlines." The captain warned her, gazing Michiko.
"I know that Captain and I am willing to take the risk for her." She firmly replied.
"If you're sure, so be it, and Petty Officer, Keisuke? you're coming too, right?"
"Petty Officer Hijikata Keisuke at your service captain, yes, Major Sakamoto had requested my presence in Munich." the right hand of the former captain of the 501st replied.
"Alright then, let's get onboard" the captain answered.
Michiko was beaming, she could not still believe that she was going to Europe to help her best friend, still she hoped everything would be fine in the journey as she recalled the stories that she had told her regarding the Neuroi encounters.
The Next Morning, in Munich
As the birds began singing, Lynette slowly opened her eyes, hoping to find Yoshika cuddling on her or at least on the bed, yet she was not there, not even her uniform.
"Not again" Lynette trembled as she rushed to the kitchen.
"Where's Miyafuji?" Perrine asked, yet Lynette just got out as quick as she entered and rushed to the bathroom, but no one was there either. So, she rushed outside, to the same place she found her yesterday, and after traversing the forest, there she was, wearing just her swimsuit, and surrounded in several shields.
"Yoshika!"
"Lynne, I didn't hear you coming."
"What's the matter with you!?" Lynette swore, rising her voicing and even surprising Yoshika's in the process.
"I- I needed to do this, I feel better, look." Yoshika put out an enormous shield above the forest.
"The doctor ordered you to take it easy." Lynette added, lowering her voice a little, yet Yoshika put another huge shield further away.
"I know what she said, but I woke up feeling pretty hot." Yoshika added making Lynette blush furiously, and so did she realizing what she just said, making her drop her shields. "Warm, I- I meant as in warm." She said still blushed. "But- but now I feel fine, better than ever in fact. And I'm not even sweating anymore." She added, yet her redness did not help her to prove her point.
"Yoshika, please." Lynette begged her, still a bit blushed, hands clasped on her chest, and gazing her in the eyes from the distance.
"You have to believe me." Yoshika coyly added.
"I do." Lynette said as she walked towards her. "Let's talk with Perrine to see what she thinks about it." She added, extending her hand.
"Thank you for trusting me." Yoshika said, grabbing her hand and then the two witches began traversing the forest back to the base, arm in arm.
Author Notes
Michiko is going to Europe, for the first time in her life. Let's see what waits for her in the next chapters.
Now, about the 504th, they either failed or there's more than one hive in Southern Karlsland. I choose to go with the former. I obviously meant no disrespect to the Ardor Witches' fans but that's what was said in both the movie and RtB so there you go.
As I said before back in the first chapter, this Fanfic is cannon complaint so don't expect new types of Neuroi but I'm gonna "play" with them in order to make them more challenging and don't forget that the 502nd faced lots of different types of Neuroi so the 501st has a great challenge ahead of them.
And regarding the lack of action of Erika, Shirley and Francesca, the next chapters will be more focused on them.
And finally, about the whole scene with Yoshika and Lynne, as I said before, this story is cannon complaint which means, I can still push it a bit further (if you have read the light novels, you know how far I can get), yet again, I'm not sure when that will happen again.
And this is the last note, I swear, regarding the relationship(s) between the girls, the story is tagged correctly and so far, there are no couples. I know that there's very tiny line in regards what their relationship is now, but no one has said anything to anyone, so until something changes, they would remain like that, very very close friends.
In the next chapter, they're still not going to advance to Ingolstadt, but some plot-related things would still occur and Minna and Mio will come back. Though, I'm not sure if it would be ready by the next week(s).